Roses are Red

I have made a start on the second week of February in my 2013 book of memories.

Firstly Valentines Day, with a handmade sticker using found words from a Sunday newspaper supplement.

Then my new recipe for the month, Carrot Muffins.

The tag is held in the book by ribbon & fabric fastener, decorated with a button.

The tag has the list of ingredients on the front & the simple method on the reverse.

Spaces have been left for journalling.

Handwriting

The Craft Barn has revealed the next letter in the Alpha Challenge, which will run throughout the year.

The fourth alpha is H.

This is the front of my tag.

This is the reverse.

I have used patterned papers Life's Journey Pansy by K & Company, Distress Ink (antique linen), an image from the Graphics Fairy (hand) & rubber stamp designed by Tim Holtz (ink droplets).

I am creating a tag for each letter of the alphabet & you can see more detail here.

February Journal

Progress update on my 2013 journal.

I have began making the cover for my book.

These are the last of the January pages.

Last month I won a bouquet of tulips in a competition - a lovely surprise. I went to collect my flowers in the first week on February. They were so bright & cheerful.

January was dominated by snow ... snow & more snow!

The first of the February pages are taking shape.

I made another envelope, to hold a business card I collected from an art exhibition I went to in the first week of February. I had made a very small envelope for my Alpha Challenge tag book, which can be seen here.

The envelope is secured in the journal by a pocket, which also has a miniature copy of the exhibition poster.

In the second week of February I joined a walking group. Snow was still laying on the ground & it was bitterly cold, but exhilarating.

I found the calendar image at Shabby Princess, so I will incorporate these each month.

 I found a small space to add one on the January pages.

What's in the Envelope?

The Craft Barn has revealed the next letter in the Alpha Challenge, which will run throughout the year.

The third alpha is E.

This is the front of my tag.

"But where is the dictionary definition?" I hear you cry. Well it's not here ...

This is the reverse of my tag.

"Well I still can't see it" you sigh.

I made a little envelope, which measures 1 inch square. It is secured in the pocket by the envelope seal.

"I'm getting impatient" you declare.

Well, let's open the envelope & see if there is anything inside.

"Oh look, there's a little card, how sweet"

For a moment, you have forgotten what we are looking for ...

"Finally" you laugh.

Inside the card is the dictionary definition.

I have used patterned papers Life's Journey Pansy by K & Company & Distress Ink (antique linen).

I am creating a tag for each letter of the alphabet & you can see more detail here.

The Key to my Heart

This is my Valentine project for 2013, using a small 5 x 7 inch canvas.

The blank canvas was covered in torn 7 Gypsies paper & given a coat of gesso.

Once dried, a wash of diluted acrylic paint was added. When this was dry, brown rub-ons by Kaisercraft (These Days) were applied.

The letters, cut from the 7 Gypsies paper, were mounted onto paper punched from papers by K&Company (Brianna).

A further coat of clear gesso was then applied over the rub-ons & lettering.

The metal key is from K&Company (Life's Journey) & tied with a piece of olive green organza ribbon.

The paper heart shape was adhered to mountboard, with the edges sanded, before the band of grosgrain ribbon was fixed into place.

The canvas was edged with lace ribbon by American Crafts (Ruban Premium in Vanilla & Chestnut).

Additional supplies worthy of note are Pinflair Bookbinding Glue, Liquitex clear gesso, & Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paint (white).